New Year's Resolutions You Won't Break by February

The reason resolutions fail? Theyre broad ("lose weight") and lack clear action steps ("organize your house"). But not these. Twelve top experts told our sister site RedbookMag.com which small changes you can make to see big results.

Build Your Personal Brand

When you hear “tissue,” you think Kleenex. When you need lip balm, ChapStick comes to mind. Wouldn’t it be great if people made a similar automatic association at the mention of your name? “This year, taking your professional life into the digital world is going to be essential,” says LinkedIn career expert Nicole Williams. Whereas not so long ago it was about keeping inappropriate things off the Web, now it’s become about strategically positioning yourself so that employers can see you’re qualified, actively engaged, and knowledgeable. If you’re a creator, put together an online portfolio. If you work in an office setting, make sure your LinkedIn profile is up to date. Contact reporters or news outlets and offer to be a source in your field — it’s impressive when a search of your name shows that. None of this replaces face-to-face relationships, but ideally, the two should supplement each other. “Your in-person relationship-building is going to grow exponentially by what you do digitally, and vice versa,” says Williams.

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